《 The Death 》
"Where is she?" I asked, looking at Dorian.
"In her chambers, follow me" he replied, glancing at me and coaxing me to follow.
We wandered from the throne room into an unfamiliar hallway. I looked at the paintings on the wall, feeling unsettled and queasy. I absolutely didn't know why, but I knew that what I was about to do would change the course of my life forever.
I tried to steady my shaking hands but they simply wouldn't stop as Dorian stopped in front of a golden door. Green, emerald leaves decorated the front almost in a celtic design.
I took a deep breath and nodded to Dorian who watched me. "Let's do this" I whispered.
Dorian nodded and reached for the handle, pushing the door open. I closed my eyes briefly, calming myself as I stepped into my mothers room.
She laid in the center of her bed, her hair splayed around her like a halo. My eyes drifted over her shallow cheeks and barely breathing chest. I felt my breath stop as my eyes reached her face.
She looked like a skeleton. A sickly greenish colour had taken to her skin and I moved towards her bed. "Mother?" I whispered.
I hadn't known her. In real, she hadn't raised me but in this moment... she was still my mother and she was still ill. Her eyes fluttered open and she turned her head towards me weakly as I fell to my knees by her bed.
I reached out and took her hand. I felt her weak strength squeeze back. "You came back" she rasped out.
I felt tears gather in my eyes. "Why didn't you tell me you were ill" I choked out.
"I didn't want you to take my throne because you had to" she replied.
I sniffled. "Do not cry my child, this is not the end for me" she whispered.
"I just met you, and now you're leaving" I cried out softly.
She squeezed my hand tighter and her eyes studied my face. "I will always be with you, my daughter, my beautiful daughter" she rasped out.
"I only wanted what was best for you, to protect you from this world, but now I have doomed you" she said as I looked at her sunken face.
Tears dripped from her eyes, staining the pillow under her head. "Tell Taron that I love him, whether or not he was homosexual or not" she said.
A tear fell from my eye and I could feel it trail down my cheek. "I should have been a better mother," she trailed off before lifting her hand weakly and wiping away the tear on my face.
I sobbed. "I'll do it mother, I'll take care of Faerieland for you" I whispered, leaning close to her hand.
She smiled as much as she could. "I know you will" she replied.
She glanced at Dorian. "Thank you for finding her for me" she said.
Dorian bowed his head in reply. She looked back at me. "My time has come my daughter, I love you" she said, smiling softly.
I felt the sadness of not knowing if I'd ever meet my real mother and the pain of not being satisfied with the one I met reach me. I poured it into my soul and let my mind reach out to her. Her eyes widened as she felt my pain, her eyes now alight with tears.
She was still my mother.
"I love you too" I whispered back before sobbing again.
Her smile seemed to freeze and I heard her last breath. I couldn't contain it anymore. I burst out crying, my head falling onto the bed, my hand clutching hers.
I sobbed it the blanket, feeling a hand on my shoulder. I sat there on my knees for god knows how long, sitting next to my dead mother.
Somehow, my mind still wanted her to speak to me one last time. But I never heard it. "Diana" Dorian said softly.
I lifted my head up, my red eyes immediately going to my mother's face. "Diana, we have to let the funeral faeries attend her" he said softly.
I let him help me up and I couldn't help but fall into his embrace, hugging him as he led me away from my mother's chamber. Her face fresh in my mine, he led me back into the throne room.
I sucked in a shuddering breath as Dorian sat me down on the stairs leading up to the throne. "You have a decision to make" he said.
I stared at the ground. "Can't I have a moment to mourn" I replied shakily.
"Diana, the Queen is gone, when the faeries find out, there will be uprisings, we need you to step up now" he said.
I felt another gentle hand touch my other shoulder and I turned my head to see Saorise. Her eyes showed unshed tears and she pulled me into a hug. I hugged her back, crying into her shoulder.
"We need you" she whispered.
My chest racked with sobs but I knew it was true. I pulled away gently and turned around to look at the throne. I swallowed.
I was too young for this. Too foolish.
I stood up, with the help from Saorise and Dorian. I let go of their hands and walked up the remaining steps. I glared at throne. "Take care of me" I whispered.
With a heavy heart, I turned around and sat down. My hands gripped the arms of the throne and I looked down at Dorian and Saorise to see them bow before me.
I took a deep breath.
"Bring me Austin, Marcus, Taron and Keian" I said, pulling my shaky voice under control and looking at Dorian.
He nodded and immediately disappeared.
I glanced at Saorise. She gazed at me sadly. "Tell me what to do" I begged her.
"I'll be here to help you, every step of the way" she replied.
"Than stand beside me as my equal and tell me if I do this wrong" I replied.
She nodded and stood up, walking towards me. She faced the front when Dorian appeared, the four boys in tow.
Taron immediately fell to the ground when he saw me. Keian knelt beside him, hugging him. Marcus couldn't look at me but he couldn't look away.
Austin bowed and I couldn't help but smile at him. He'd never been to Faerieland land but it seems he already knew the customs.
I couldn't tear my eyes away from my brother. Dorian walked up the steps, standing beside me. "What is this?" Marcus hissed.
I took a deep breath. "My mother is gone, I've taken the throne" I replied.
"You've undone everything we fought against!" He exclaimed.
Austin stood up. "Are you okay?" He asked.
My attention turned to him. "I'm okay" I replied.
His eyes reflected my sadness. He knew what it was like to lose your family. To lose someone. Marcus was angry. "Diana, you can't take tell throne!" He exclaimed.
Austin turned to look at me again. "Yes you can Diana, you are going to be a great and just Queen" he said.
Marcus walked up the steps and my eyes followed him. "You know what this means Diana, it means we can't be together" he replied, shocked.
I swallowed. "Is that what you want? You're going to sacrifice everything we have together for this?" He asked, almost heartbroken.
I stood up, Dorian stepping forward and half unshealthing his sword. "I'm sorry Marcus" I whispered.
He heard it and stepped back as if I'd delivered a blow to his heart. "No" he whispered back.
"I have to do this, they're my people" I replied, on the verge of tears.
Marcus shook his head. "No, no no, if you do this, you will never see me again!" He exclaimed, the pain evident in his voice.
A sob tore through me. "I'm sorry" I cried out, a tear falling from my face as I watched the pain and anguish wipe from his face into an unemotional mask.
"Don't ever speak to me, I don't want anything to do with you or your people" he replied, his lip curling.
As fast as a blink, he disappeared from the throne room as I let out a rather loud cry of his name.
My head hang as I bit back the tears.
"For my people" I whispered to myself.
I looked up and glanced at Austin who ran up the steps to hug me. I tightened my arms around him, holding him like a lifeline. "I promise to protect you, to love you and hold you" he whispered into my hair.
I nodded, burying my face into his shoulder. "We will do this, together" he added.
He held me as Taron still knelt crying into Keian's shoulder.
I closed my eyes.
A/N
Whew. What an emotional chapter. I kinda balled my eyes out writing it. #noshame
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T xoxo